Budweiser Shootout

victory in the Budweiser Shootout through Denny Hamlin's win in the season finale at Homestead, the 2009 season belonged to Jimmie Johnson. Now a four-time Cup Series champion, Johnson wrapped up his fourth consecutive title with another 10-race Chase run into the record books.

However, there were many other storylines that made headlines this year -- the economy and its effect on a sponsor-driven sport, Jeremy Mayfield's suspension following a failed drug test and the subsequent legal filings, Danica Patrick's seemingly never ending "talks" with team owners, not to mention the Hall of Fame as well as the on-track competition.

NAS-CAR.COM's staff writers weigh in with their top stories of the year: Sponsorship was priceless in '09. Sponsorship was priceless in '09.

MARK AUMANN The economic slowdown affected every facet of the sport in 2009, and may continue to do so in the near future.

Two of the sport's manufacturers -- Chevrolet and Chrysler -- faced bankruptcy and throttled back their monetary and engineering assistance. Major corporations cut back or eliminated their sponsorships altogether. Several teams merged or shuttered their operations, and in the process, laid off hundreds of employees. Others went the "start and park" route in an effort to limit expenses and maximize revenues.

The drop in attendance, close to 10 percent from 2008 estimates, was partially blamed on the recession, as fans had more difficult choices to make with their increasingly limited disposable income. Many members of the media found themselves facing the same situation as declining advertising revenue required downsizing. And even though the forecast is rosier for the foreseeable future, there's no guarantee NASCAR will return to its halcyon days any time soon.

Danica Patrick prepares for 1st trip to Darlington

Driver Danica Patrick looks on prior to the start of the NASCAR Nationwide series race at Talladega Superspeedway, May 5 in Talladega, Ala.

NASCAR: Danica going to Darlington for first time

Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Danica Patrick is ready to earn her stripes — probably plenty of them — this weekend at the Southern 500. Patr ...

Danica Patrick returns to Sprint Cup for Southern 500

Patrick is back in the Sprint Cup series for the first time since the season-opening Daytona 500 and she picked one of the circuit's most treacherous tracks for her return in Darlington Raceway.

Patrick prepares for 1st trip to Darlington

READY FOR DARLINGTON — Danica Patrick climbing into her car before the NASCAR Nationwide series race Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. Patrick is back in the Sprint Cup series for the first time in nearly three months and she has picked perhaps the oddest track on the circuit to do it.

Patrick faces tough test at Darlington

Danica Patrick speaks to her team before the start of Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway last Saturday. / The Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. —